What Factors are Associated with Age Differences In Intentional Decision Avoidance?
Julia Nolte1,2, Corinna E Löckenhoff1,3
1Department of Psychology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
Experimental Aging Research
|March 10, 2025
Summary
Older adults avoid choices more, potentially due to perceived cognitive load. While a writing intervention improved decision-related affect, it did not reduce choice avoidance in older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Psychology
- Cognitive Science
- Gerontology
Background:
- Older adults often exhibit greater avoidance of choices compared to younger populations.
- Understanding the psychological drivers behind this avoidance is crucial for promoting autonomy and well-being in later life.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying reasons for increased choice avoidance in older adults.
- To examine the roles of cognitive load and affect in older adults' decision-making processes.
- To test an intervention designed to mitigate choice avoidance by reducing cognitive load.
Main Methods:
- Two U.S.-based, pre-registered studies were conducted with adult participants (N=164 and N=485).
- Participants' age, perceived cognitive load, and affect were assessed.
- In Study 2, participants were randomized to a writing condition hypothesized to decrease avoidance.
Main Results:
- Older age positively correlated with choice avoidance and improved affect following avoidance.
- Choice avoidance was associated with higher perceived cognitive loads.
- The writing intervention reduced cognitive loads and enhanced decision-related affect but did not decrease choice avoidance.
Conclusions:
- Perceived cognitive load is linked to choice avoidance in older adults, but does not fully explain the tendency.
- Interventions targeting cognitive load may improve affect associated with decisions but may not reduce avoidance behavior itself.
- Further research is needed to identify effective strategies for reducing choice avoidance in older populations.
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